👥 Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 54 👥

In this episode of the Growth Capital Podcast, host Justin Dixon sits down with Ron Ondechek Jr., Founder & Managing Director of South Highland Ventures, to unpack how his firm is redefining what business succession looks like for the next generation.

Ron shares how his partnership with Novastone Partners has created a first-of-its-kind model that pairs experienced operators with legacy businesses—preserving jobs, culture, and decades of founder-built success. Together, they explore why the $10 trillion “succession gap” is one of the most overlooked investment opportunities of our time.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rondechek/

If you believe the next wave of growth comes from preserving what’s already great, this episode is for you.

📘 Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 53 📘

In this episode, Marc Pickren, CEO of Springbot, shares with Justin Dixon how he’s rewriting the rules of leadership — scaling an AI-powered marketing platform through creative deal structures, non-dilutive capital, and relentless operational discipline.

Marc has built a reputation as a multi-time turnaround CEO, leading companies from chaos to clarity. Here, he breaks down the real work of modern leadership — how to scale smarter, integrate teams without breaking momentum, and build predictable growth in an unpredictable market.

🔍 In this episode:

📍 Connect with Marc Pickren:

🎧 Listen now on:

💬 If this conversation challenged your thinking, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway — and don’t forget to subscribe for more insights from PE-backed CEOs and founders building businesses that last.

⚡ Growth Capital Podcast - Episode 52 ⚡

In crowded markets, being “better” isn’t enough — you have to be different.

In this episode, Otherwise Brewing Co-Founder and CEO Aaron Gervais joins host Justin Dixon to unpack how he built one of the only gluten-free beer brands in the U.S. — and turned a small niche into a scalable business opportunity.

Aaron shares how he identified a white space in a saturated industry, found the right co-founder to complement his strengths, and built a company rooted in process, not just passion. From product-market fit to operational discipline, this conversation reveals why differentiation is the real growth engine behind enduring brands.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

📩 Connect with Aaron Gervais:

🎧 Listen now on:

👉 Subscribe for more conversations with founders, investors, and PE leaders who are building the next generation of growth.

🪖 Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 51 🪖

What happens when leadership, discipline, and service meet entrepreneurship?

In this episode of the Growth Capital Podcast, host Justin Dixon sits down with Patrick Flood, Founder & CEO of Owners in Honor, a nonprofit helping veterans transition from military service to business ownership through acquisition.

A 26-year Army veteran and former Green Beret, Patrick shares how his post-service mission evolved from personal success to collective purpose — building a model where veterans don’t just find jobs, but own their next mission.

🔍 What you’ll learn:

🌐 Connect with Patrick Flood:

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

🏗️ Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 50 🏗️

Private equity isn’t just about capital—it’s about connection.

Whether you’re a founder considering outside capital, a PE professional, or a startup operator, this episode dives deep into the mindset that sustains real, human-centered growth.

📩 Connect with Rob Regan: LinkedIn or via https://boynecapital.com/

🌊 Growth Capital Podcast - Episode 49 🌊

Artificial Intelligence has evolved through three distinct eras—from logic-based systems to today’s data-hungry LLMs. But are we truly getting smarter, or just scaling bigger?

In this episode of the Growth Capital Podcast, host Justin Dixon sits down with Peter Voss, Founder, CEO, and Chief Scientist at Aigo.ai, to explore the next frontier: Cognitive AI—machines that can think, learn, and reason like humans.

Peter breaks down the three waves of AI as defined by DARPA, why current large language models (like ChatGPT) have reached their limits, and how the next phase of AI will be defined by adaptability, learning, and reasoning—not brute force.

🔍 What you’ll learn:

🎯 About Peter Voss:

📩 Connect with Peter:

🎧 Watch or listen now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of business, technology, and growth.

👥 Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 48 👥

What happens when founders actually listen to their customers? In this episode of the Growth Capital Podcast, host Justin Dixon sits down with Gaurav Gupta, Founder & CEO of Squanto—a gig marketplace app for live entertainment.

What started as a simple tipping and discovery app for street performers quickly evolved into something bigger. Through countless customer conversations, Gaurav realized the real challenges performers and venues faced: landing gigs, sorting through hundreds of applicants, and building trust in a two-sided marketplace.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Gaurav’s story is a masterclass in adapting strategy to customer reality—something every founder, investor, and operator can learn from.

📩 Connect with Gaurav and learn more about Squanto: https://squanto.app/

👉 If you found this episode valuable, please like, comment, and subscribe to the channel. Your feedback helps us bring more insights from leaders shaping the future of startups and growth.

📊 Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 47 📊

When does a founder really need a CFO—and how can fractional or interim finance leadership change the trajectory of a business?

In this episode of the Growth Capital Podcast, host Justin Dixon sits down with Salvatore Tirabassi, Founder & Managing Director of CFO Pro+Analytics, to explore how founders, family-owned businesses, and PE-backed companies can leverage cash flow planning, forecasting, and analytics to scale with confidence.

💡 What you’ll learn in this episode:

📌 Guest Info:

🎧 Available now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Salvatore will also be speaking on a September 10th webinar hosted by HubiFi on subscription-led growth—ideal for anyone building or investing in recurring revenue SaaS models. To join, reach out to HubiFi via their website - https://www.hubifi.com/

🤖 Growth Capital Podcast - Episode 46 🤖

What’s hype, what’s real, and where does AI actually deliver ROI?

From the pitfalls of early adoption to the promise of Agentic AI, Jeff shares how leaders can distinguish between noise and value — and how AI is already transforming workflows, content creation, and workforce structures.

🔍 What you’ll learn:

🚀 Whether you’re leading a PE-backed portfolio company, scaling a startup, or advising growth-stage businesses, this episode cuts through the hype and provides practical insights you can apply today.

📩 Connect with Jeff Torello: https://sinjun.ai/ or on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtorello/

👉 Watch more episodes and subscribe for insights on scaling, investing, and building companies with the right talent.

🏆 Growth Capital Podcast - Episode 45 🏆

What does it take to risk everything — and still push forward?

In this episode of the Growth Capital Podcast, host Justin Dixon sits down with Amy Bett, Co-Founder & CEO of Melo, a sparkling kava beverage disrupting the non-alcoholic drinks market.

Amy shares how a personal struggle with alcohol inspired her to create an alternative, how a family crisis shaped her entrepreneurial grit, and why she left Australia to launch her business in the U.S. — moving alone, renting a room, and betting on herself.

From overcoming supply chain setbacks to breaking into national retail chains, Amy’s story is a candid look at resilience, sacrifice, and the founder’s mindset required to scale in consumer packaged goods.

🔍 What you’ll learn in this episode:

📩 Connect with Amy: [email protected]

👉 Watch, subscribe, and comment below — where do you think the line is between smart risk and reckless risk?